Toe pad



June 20, 1939. A, L ENK I 2,163,012

TOE PAD Filed Jan. 26, 1958 1/1 4= 1/7-0/e flaw/50w? 4 6092-71 1,

Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to toe pads, and more particularly to'an elastic pad or cushioning member that is adapted to be positioned transversely on the toes directly over or to the rear of the phalangeal joints for the purpose of correcting certain deformities or irregularities of the toes, and likewise for the prevention and elimination of corns on the phalangeal joints and which corns, it will be understood, are generally caused by undue pressure and rubbing contact of the toes against the shoe.

Further objects of my invention are to generally improve upon and simplify the existing forms of similar toe pads; to provide a cushioning pad that may be easily and quickly applied to or removed from the toes and which is especially designed for correction of the irregularity generally known as hammer toes and further, to provide a device of the character referred to with simple and efficient means, capable of being easily and quickly adjusted for retaining the cushioning pad in the desired position upon the toes.

Further objects of my invention are, a toe pad of the character referred to that will be of a hygienic character, capable of being readily cleansed and sterilized and to provide a device that is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive of manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the forward portion of a shoe with parts broken away to show the toes of the foot within the shoe and with a protective cushion in position upon the toes for the purpose of correcting upwardly arched or hammer toes.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one form of the cushioning pad.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through the toe-portion of a shoe and showing my improved cushioning-pad in position upon the toes.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are perspective views of modified forms of the cushioning-pad.

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of a further modified form of the pad.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the form of pad illustrated in Fig. 9. v

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line lI-ll of Fig. 10.

Referring by numerals. to the accompanying drawing, and particularly to the form of pad illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, l0 designates the body of the pad which is preferably com- I posed of sponge-rubber, having a thin velvet-like skin, and'this body has the shape of an elongated semi-ellipsoid.

The under face ll of the body is substantially flat, and the upper face Ila is convex both longitudinally and transversely.

Formed in the upper surface of the body I0 is a longitudinally disposed narrow, shallow chan nel l2, the ends of which terminate a short distance inwardly from the ends of the body Ill. The purpose of the channel I2 is to receive portions of the tie so that the same will not project 20 above the surface of the pad.

Formed vertically through the body H] from the ends of this channel are apertures 13, and a similar aperture I4 is formed through thecenter of the body.

- In order to retain the cushioning pad in proper position upon the toes, a lacing or tie I5 is formed in a single piece from soft flexible material such as leather or narrow tape, and the centralportion of this tie is doubled and passes from the v bottom upwardly through the aperture i l and the end of the doubled portion of the tie that projects into the groove or channel l3 constitutes a loop l6 that receives the ends of the tie and retains the same in the groove or channel.

Portions I! of the tie beyond the doubled central portion are adapted to pass beneath an adjacent pair of toes of the foot, and the ends of the tie extend upwardly through the apertures i3, thence toward each other through the groove 40 I2 with the overlapping end portions of said tie engaged by the loop l6.

The construction just described, and particularly the flexible tie provides means whereby the pad may be firmly retained in its adjusted posi- 45 tion upon the toes for, after adjustment, the ends of the tie are pulled outwardly away from each other until the loop portions of the tie fit snugly around the toes and the tie is held in such position by the eye or loop l6 that receives both 50 ends of said tie.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6, the cushioning-pad Illa takes the form of a cylinder having rounded ends, and formed in said cylinder is a longitudinally disposed channel l2a, 55

and extending downwardly from the ends and central portion of said channel through the body of the pad, are apertures l3a.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, the body l 012 of the pad is half round in cross-section, and formed in the top thereof is a longitudinally disposed channel lZb leading from the ends and center of said channel downwardly through the body of the pad.

In the modification illustrated in Fig, 8, the body I of the pad takes the form of a fairly thick strip of compressible material having rounded ends and provided in its upper surface with a longitudinally disposed channel I20 and with apertures 13c extending downwardly from the ends and center of said channel.

Obviously, the body of the cushioning pad may take various other shapes. and accomplish the same results that are accomplished by the particular form of pad illustrated in Figs.- 1 to"5 inclusive.

In the modified construction illustrated inFigs. 9, and 11, the body 18 of the pad is very similar in shape to the pad I I, but without the longitudinal channel and apertures.

Formed integral with one sideof the pad body I8 at the center thereof is an outwardly projecting lug ID from which depends a web 20 that is adapted to occupy a position between the toes that are engaged by the cushioning pad. In order that this web may fit conveniently between the toes, the side faces 2| of said web are made concave, as illustrated in Fig. 11, and the lower end of the web is widened, as designated by 22, so as to fit beneath the-side portions of the toes between which the web is positioned.

Formed in the intermediate portion of web 2D is an aperture 23 which is for the purpose of eliminating any contact of the web with soft corns that might occur on the side faces of the toe between which the web is positioned.

In the use of my improved cushioning pad, the same is positioned on top of the toeor toes that are to be treated or corrected, with'the' tie passing around the toes to which the pad is applied. Where the pad is used for therelief and correction of hammer toes, said pad is positioned just to the rear of the jointsthat are elevated, and thus the pressure of the shoe is applied to the pad so as to force same downwardly and thus the hammer toes are urged toward their normal positions and the elevated joints of said hammer toes are prevented from contact tions.

While my invention is particularly designed for the treatment and correction of hammer toes, the device may be utilized for straightening and rendering comfortable misshapen toes, and for counteracting the pressure and friction of the footwear which, as is well-known, tends to develop corns and the like.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a toe-corrective device in the form of a cushioning pad that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved toe pad may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A toe pad comprising a body composed of soft flexible material having a length sufficient to overlie the members of an adjacent pair of toes, the upper surface of said body being convex longitudinally and transversely, a Web formed integral with and extending outwardly and thence downwardly from the central portion of said body and there being an aperture formed in the central portion of said web.

2. A toe pad comprising a body composed of soft flexible material having a length sufficient to overlie the members of an adjacent pair of toes, the upper surface of said body being convex longitudinally and transversely, a web formed integral withand extending outwardly and thence downwardly from the central portion of said body and the side faces of which web are concave and there being an aperture formed in the thin central portion of said web.

. ABRAHAM L. SCHENK. 

